theatre.

MR. TRILLO. Well, gentlemen, I hope this chorus at least will
please you:-


If I drink water while this doth last,
May I never again drink wine:
For how can a man, in his life of a span,
Do anything better than dine?
Well dine and drink, and say if we think
That anything better can be,
And when we have dined, wish all mankind
May dine as well as we.
And though a good wish will fill no dish
And brim no cup with sack,
Yet thoughts will spring as the glasses ring,
To illume our studious track.
On the brilliant dreams of our hopeful schemes
The light of the flask shall shine;
And we'll sit till day, but we'll find the way
To drench the world with wine.


The schemes for the world's regeneration evaporated in a tumult of
voices.



CHAPTER VII: THE SLEEPING VENUS